What’s happening in downtown Holland this summer? A lot!
The Holland area is known as a great place to spend a summer day on the Lake Michigan beach. It’s a fun spot to spend a summer night downtown, too!
Summer brings some added attractions to one of the most beautiful small towns in America. In addition to a diverse assortment of summer festivals in downtown Holland, there’s a variety of live entertainment on tap this year.
So, after a relaxing day at the lake or an afternoon of outdoor adventure in the Holland area, clean up in your hotel room and come downtown for some memorable nightlife that’s fun for all ages. Take a look at some of the special activities and events happening in downtown Holland this summer:
On Tuesday nights from June 13-Aug. 15, come enjoy Holland’s American Legion Concert Series. The Holland American Legion Band will treat you to a free concert at 7:30 p.m. in Kollen Park, just west of downtown on the delightful Lake Macatawa waterfront. The community band involves nearly 100 musicians and often is joined by local high school and college students for the summer concerts. Just bring a chair or blanket to sit on and enjoy the show!
A stroll along downtown Holland’s tree-lined streets and cobblestone sidewalks is especially fun on Thursdays from June 15-Aug. 17 during Holland’s Summer Street Performer Series. From 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Eighth Street you’ll see everything from musicians and face painters to caricature artists, jugglers, magicians and aerial acrobats! The entertainment makes a nice complement for an evening of shopping downtown Holland’s unique retailers, or an activity all its own while sitting on a bench and savoring ice cream or frozen yogurt.
Friday nights in the summer offer another opportunity to enjoy free live music in the Kollen Park bandshell. Holland’s Summer Concert Series plays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 16-Aug. 11. Just bring chairs or a blanket to sit on. You can catch dinner downtown before the show at one of many delicious downtown Holland restaurants, and then head back afterward for drinks. There also will be food trucks at the park where you can grab a bite during the concert.
After spending the night in the Holland area, wake up and treat your body right with a visit to the Holland Farmers Market. Nearly 100 vendors set up shop from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays through the summer and into the fall at the Eighth Street Market Place, on the west end of downtown. The market also runs 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays with a large selection of fresh produce, flowers, baked goods and so much more.
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Downtown Holland has lots of weekly events happening all summer long, so whenever you visit there’s always something to see and do. Even if you miss the activities above, there are so many one-of-a-kind places to discover and experiences to enjoy.
Here’s a shortlist of 10 more ways to enjoy downtown Holland this summer (with a full rundown of things to explore in the Holland area here.
- Take the kids or a date to the Holland’s Scrapyard Climbing Collective for some indoor bouldering
- Grab a local Holland brew from any of the dozen bars and restaurants in the downtown social district, where you can buy an alcoholic beverage and enjoy it while strolling the sidewalk outside
- Watch an independent film in Hope College’s historic Knickerbocker Theatre during the Summer Film Series
- Catch a first-run flick at Sperry’s Moviehouse in Holland, a boutique downtown theatre with the best seating anywhere and a dinnerhouse menu, too
- Treat yourself to a spectacular dinner at any number of downtown Holland restaurants such as Mizu Sushi, The Kitchen @ CitySen Lounge and Seventy-Six
- Grab a tasty treat in downtown Holland at Whit’s Frozen Custard, Kilwins or Cakabakery on 8th
- Admire the many bronze statues in downtown Holland. You can even sit next to Ben Franklin as he reads the Declaration of Independence or join a quintet of musicians for a #discoverholland selfie
- Walk to Window on the Waterfront park where there’s a scenic urban trail along the Macatawa River and a nature playscape for kids of all ages with slides and climbers made out of natural materials
- Shop some of the 100-plus unique stores and galleries in downtown Holland including Blu Veranda, Chico’s, Fustini’s Oils and Vinegars, GarenHuis Yarn Studio, RIT Music, Seedlings Art Bar and many more.
- Sneak out to a Holland area beach for a gorgeous sunset over Lake Michigan
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Whatever ways you find to have a blast downtown, you can rest up and recharge for another day of discovery at any of the Holland area’s many places to stay – from hotels and B&Bs to cottages and campgrounds. Book your stay and come make the most of summer this year!